Guest-Blogger Clementine from www.ClementinePosy.BlogSpot.com

Sometimes the most effective floral arrangement can be the easiest to source and the simplest to put together. Some of my favourite vessels to use are vintage glassware passed down from the my mother, recycled jam and Italian pasta jars, teacups, cut crystal decanters sourced from various vintage stores or my grandmothers cupboard. Rifle though your kitchen cabinet and see what you can find. Even tying a piece of vintage ribbon or twine around a plain glass jar or jug can add just the right amount of quirkiness to your arrangement.

The next step is to head to your local market and source some fresh blooms. Look for simple, classic flowers, and make sure they are always what are in high season. The bloom will be much fresher and therefore last longer. My personal favourites are fragrant roses, dahlias, magnolia blooms, hydrangeas, peonies and camellias. If you are lucky enough to stumble across wild violets or freesias be sure to grab them! I am always on the lookout for something unusual to add, be it stems of fresh berries, craspedia, wild angelica, tea tree or Geraldton wax. Should you be lucky enough to source flowers or foliage's from your own garden, do so! It is not unusual for me to raid my parent's garden for magnolias, camellias, begonia stems and hoards of trailing jasmine to add to my arrangements for home. I almost always cut my foliage's for personal arrangements from my own modest garden.

Should you be lucky enough to source flowers or foliage's from your own garden, do so!

Once you have all your blooms and your vessel of choice has been cleaned and filled with fresh water, you can begin to put your arrangement together. Start with some fresh foliage's, and add clusters of blooms starting with your 'focal' flowers- a few open garden roses clustered together or some shaggy dahlias. Move onto the 'filler' flower- a stem of magnolia flower, or maybe some fresh lilac. The finishing touch should be a textural element, to add some visual interest- berries, angelica, or craspedia. Finish with some more fresh foliage and you should have a gorgeous, natural display.

Be sure to play around with the blooms and have fun with the flowers. The best displays are ones with personality, be it some tumbling foliage or a fresh cut roses in clashing colours. Make a few small arrangements and cluster together in your entrance way, or take a mass of vintage glass bottles and fill with stems of foliage and single blooms to display down the centre of your dining table for a casual gathering.

Mother Nature has given us a lot of beauty to work with so be sure to take advantage. Taking a few minutes out of your Saturday morning to play with fresh flowers is a great way to relax, reduce stress and release some creative juices. You will be sure to smile each time your rush by your creation!